Wales legend Hughes named Carlisle head coach

Carlisle United have appointed Wales legend Mark Hughes as their new head coach.

Hughes has signed a rolling contract to replace Mike Williamson who was sacked on Monday with the club bottom of League Two.

The 61-year-old, who will have Glyn Hodges alongside him, has been out of work since being sacked by Bradford City in October 2023.

Hughes has managed six clubs in the Premier League as well as the Wales national team after a glittering playing career.

He spent 18 months at Bradford and in his only full season in charge the Bantams finished sixth before they were beaten in the League Two play-offs by Carlisle.

That was his only managerial job outside the top-flight, having previously been in charge of a total of 466 Premier League games as boss at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton.

Before that, he had managed Wales for five years, leading them to a play-off for Euro 2004, but he was not able to guide them to a major tournament.

As a player, Hughes won 11 major honours and 72 caps for his country as a bustling centre-forward, as well as host of individual accolades.

But his new job is to try to drag Carlisle away from relegation to the National League.